Internal-combustion engine



July 20 1926. 1,593,065

a. R. FULLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 30, 1925 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 I-LEZD-L- INVENTOR 61.14 R-FuLLE/c ATTORNEY July 20 1926. 1,593,065

.6. R. FULLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE il April 30, 1925 2 shets-Sheet 2 V I A lam-Z- INVENTOR 6m 1?. Flu-Ere. B

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. ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1926 UNITED STATES 1,593,065 PATENT OFFICE.

GLA R. FULLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER CORPORA- TION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IN TERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed April '30, 1925. Serial No. 26,965.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly to means for supporting cooling pans therefor and also lu bricating the fan bearings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for supporting such fans whereby the bearings of the same will be amply supplied withlubricant at all times.

Another object is to provide means in conjunction with the fan bearing for introducing lubricant into the interior of the engine of which the means forms a part, and which provides means for trapping a portion of any lubricant so introduced for the sole purpose of lubricating such bearing.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the fan bearing to tighten the fan driving belt without interfering with the introduction of lubricant therethrough into the engine.

A further object is to provide a passageway between the fan bearing and the cranlc case of the engine and a breather opening for the crank-case in communication with the fan bearing, whereby the lubricant carrying vapors breathed out from the crankcase during the operation of the engine will deposit a portion of such lubricant upon the fan bearing, and will deposit another portion of such lubricant in a pocket below said bearing where it may be carried up to the hearing by suitable means.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Figure 1 is a partially broken side view of the front end of an internal combustion engine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the fan support and co-operating parts looking in the same direction as Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the center of the fan bearing as on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 8.

Figure 7 is a view taken from the pivoted side of the cap covering the combined oil and breather opening, showing the mamier of pivoting the cap to the bearing housing, a portion only of the housing being shown.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

In the drawings is shown an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block 10, an oil pan 11, which forms with the lower part of the cylinder block 10 what is commonly known as the crank-case, and a chain or gear housing 12 bolted to the forward face of both the cylinder block 10 and oil pan 11., the housing 12 enclosing suitable mechanism for driving an accessory drive shaft 13, cam shaft (not shown) or other necessary parts. The upper face of the housing 12 is formed to provide a fiat horizontal attaching surface, the center of which is cut out to form an opening 14 (Figure 4:) therethrough for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Attached to this upper face of the housing 12 by cap screws 15 is an angularly upwardly extending hollow supporting member 16 terminating at its upper and forward end in an annular seat 16 to which is pivotally secured by a bolt 17 and nut 18 (Figure 6) a hollow fan supporting member 19 having a complementary annular seat 17 the hollow interior of the member 19 being in communication with the hollow interior of the member 16 through the center of the complementary annular seats just described. The upper or free end of the member 19 is enlarged to form a cylindrical housing and is provided on its upper surface with an upstanding integral collar 20 which forms an opening 21 through which lubricating oil for the engine may be introduced, the oil in such cases flowing down through the member 19 into the member 16 and thence through the opening 14 into the housing 12 from which it drains into the oil pan 11 in the usual manner.

A cap 22 is pivoted by a pin 23 to an ear 24 on the side of the collar 20 to cover the opening 21, it projecting out over and out of contact with the collar 20, and being held out of contact with the same by means of a second ear 25 against which it normally rests, to provide an opening therearound connecting the interior of the engine with the atmosphere to allow for the brea hing of the crank-case. The cap 22 is ,rovided with two downwardly turned spacec ears 26 (Figure 7) to which the pin 23 is pivoted. These ears are each provided with a key-hole slot 27, the enlarged portion of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the pin 23. The pin 23' is provided with a peripheral groove 28 (Figure 7) adjacent each end thereof the bottom diameter of which is slightly smaller than the width of the small portion of the slot' 27 and which grooves are spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of'thee'arS-QS on the cap 20 In assembling,- a spring 29 of the shape shown is sprung over the laterally projecting bossedportions of the ear 24:,- the cap 20 isplaced in position but with the enlarged portion-of the slot 27 in line with the opening in the car 24: provided to receive the pin :23, and the pin 23- is inserted in place, the pressure of the spring 29 forcing the pivoted end of the cap 20 upwardly so as to cause the narrow portion of the slot 27' to engage the grooves 28 in the pin 23, thereby holding the latter against axial movement, and forcing the freeend of the cap 20 down against the ear 25.

The forward face of the cylindrical free endhousing portion oi the member 19 is provided with an axially ositioned elongated bearing portion 30 igure- 5-) 'ined;

with a bushing 31 and the open rear face is closed by an axially coincident forwardly extending flanged bearing member 32 also lined with a bushing 315. Rotatably sup ported in the bushings 31 is the shaft for the cooling fan 34, on the rearwardly pro j ecting end of which is threaded adrive pulley The pulley 35 is driven by means of a belt- 37 from a similar pulley 36 secured tothe accessory shaft 13-. Means comprising a screw 38, threaded vertically into the base of, the member 16, the head of which bears against the under face of the free end of the member 19', is provided to or lower the free end of the member 19 about the bolt 17 as a center to tighten or loosen the belt 37' as may be required. A; collar 39' secured to the fan shaft 33 between the bushings 31 revents axial movement ofthe shaft 33. A am 40 (Figure 3') provided between the cylindrical free end portion of the member 19 and the b portion thereof acts to form an oil retaining pocket 41 below the; shaft 33. Suitable wicks 42 carried by drilled screws 43 threaded through the member 19 at the bottom. of the pocket 41, and backed by coil sjrin-gs 44 extend from the bottom of the poo et 41 up through the bearings 30 and 32 and bushings 31 to the shaft 33 which they bear against, carrying oil from the pocket: 41 up to the shaft 33 for the pun pose of lubricating the same, or if desired, other means, such as ring oilers, may be suitably used for the same purpose. Suitable drain passages l5. are provided adjacent the outer ends of both bushings 31 to prevent oil from being carried out of the member 19 along the shaft 33, and an oil throw-oil ring 46 is provided at the extreme forward end of the collar 30' to prevent any oil that may work past the forward drain from working out. on to the fan 3%.

From the above description it will be seen that the opening 2'1 affords a means for introducing lubricating oil into the oil pan 11 of the engine, and when such oil. is introduced into the open'ir 21, not. only will it be poured directly on the fan shaft bearings,

but a certain amount will be trapped in the pocket all where it forms a supply which may be slowly elevated by the wicks as; to the fan bearings. In addition, the opening 21 also forms a breather opening for the crank-case of the engine as previously described, and when the oil laden vapor is breathed out of the opening 211 during the operation of the engine, oil will be deposited therefrom on the fan shaft bearings, afford ing additional means for lubricating the same, and, further, particles of oil from such vapor will be collected on the interior walls of the free end of the member 19- and will draindown into the pocket ll to be picked up by the wicks l2, thus providing a means for constantly replenishing the supply of oil in the pocketll. In view of the fact that the lubrication of such bearings has been a constant source of trouble insuch engines, it will be readily apparent that the means provided will be of great value in overcoming the cliiliculty heretofore cxperienced, and that when this,together with the simple belt adjusting means is considered, a very satisfactory construction results, which overcomes the objections heretofore encountered.

Formal changes may be madein specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

1. In combination with an internal com bustionen-gine, a hollow fan support pivotally mounted thereon, the interior thereof being in communication with the crank-case of said engine, fanshaft rotatably supported at the free; end of said support, and an opening in said support above said fan shaft for admitting lubricant to said shaft and crank-case.

2. In combination with internal combustion engine having a crank case, a hollow support pivotally mounted on said engine and in open communication with said crank case, a cooling fan and a shaft therefor, said shaft rotatably mounted in bearings in the free end of said support, and means above said bearing connecting the interior of said support with the atmosphere.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank-case, a cooling fan, and a shaft for said fan, a hollow support for said shaft pivotally mounted on said engine, the interior thereof being in communication with said crank-case and the free end thereof provided with bearings for said shaft, means for adjusting the vertical position of the free end of said support, and a crank-case breather opening in said support at a more remote point from said crankcase than said bearings.

4. In combination with an internal coinbustion engine having a crank-case, a cooling fan, and a shaft for said fan, an adjustable hollow supporting member on said engine, the interior thereof being in communication with said crank-case, bearings in said support for said shaft, a crank-case breather opening in said support at a point more remote from said crank-case than said bearings, a lubricant pocket in said sup ort below said bearings, and means for e evating lubricant from said pocket to said bearings.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank-case, a cooling fan, and a shaft for said fan, a hollow supporting member pivotally secured at one end to said engine. with its interior in communication with said crank-case and provided with bearings for said shaft at its free end, a crank-case breather and oil-filler opening connecting the interior of said member with said atmosphere at a point more remote from said crank-case than said bearings, a dam in said member between said bearings and the point of pivot of said member forming a pocket for collecting lubricant introduced into said opening or deposited on the walls of said member, and means for carrying lubricant from said pocket to said bearings.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a hollow adjustable fan support provided with fan shaft bearings and having its interior in communication with the crank-case of said engine, an oil breather opening in said support, means for trapping Oll deposited during the breathing of said crank-case on the interior walls of said support, and means for leading the oil so trapped to said bearings.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a hollow, adjustable fan support provided with fan shaft bearings and having its interior in communication with the crank-case of said engine, an oil filler opening in said support above said bearings, a pocket below said bearings for trapping a portion of any oil introduced into said opening, and means for leading the oil so trapped to said bearings.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 27th day of April 1925.

GLA. R. FULLER. 

